The Arizona Diamondbacks will take on the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mid-Atlantic Sports Network will televise this NL matchup. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET.
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Washington Nationals Odds
Washington (-110) is the favorite over Arizona (+100) and Vegas has the Over/Under for this afternoon’s game at 8 runs (+105 for the over and -125 for the under). You can also bet on the game’s runline with the current odds sitting at Diamondbacks +1.5 runs (-210) and Nationals +-1.5 runs (+175).
The Nationals are 11-16 SU and 11-15 ATS. They’ve lost 10.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 5.0 units against the spread (ATS). The Diamondbacks are 19-7 SU and have gone 15-10 ATS. Overall, the team’s gained 12.4 units for moneyline gamblers in this young season and 6.5 units ATS.
Nationals games have an over/under record of 12-12-2 so far in 2018. Diamondbacks games have gone over 13 times, gone under 11 times and pushed on one occasion.
The left-handed Robbie Ray is the probable starter for the visiting Diamondbacks. Ray is 2-0 with a 5.13 ERA and 43 strikeouts. He has yet to face Washington this year, but he made two starts against the team in 2017, putting together a 0-2 record with a 4.91 ERA and 14 strikeouts.
The Nationals are putting the ball in the hands of lefty Gio Gonzalez (2-2, 3.04 ERA), who has 29 strikeouts and 12 walks, as well as a WHIP of 1.50. Gonzalez only made one start against the Diamondbacks in 2017 (0-0, 1.80 ERA and eight strikeouts across five innings).
Washington’s pitching staff has given up 4.4 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. The team’s starters have an ERA of 3.59, a WHIP of 1.13 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 9.8. The bullpen has a 5.03 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 10.4 K/9.
The Washington hitters have produced 4.4 runs per outing, including 4.5 per game over its last 10 games and 5.4 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .267/.347/.411 over its last five matchups and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.
Outfielder Bryce Harper and second baseman Howie Kendrick have led the charge for the Nationals’ offense so far. Harper is slashing .250/.455/.548 with eight home runs, 19 RBIs and 23 runs scored, while Kendrick’s line sits at .301/.333/.527 with four homers, 11 RBIs and nine runs.
Harper had a slight drop-off in production when facing lefty pitching at home last year, slashing .295/.362/.328 across 69 such plate appearances (his overall season line was .317/.411/.596).
In the other dugout, Arizona’s pitching staff allowed 3.2 runs per game and its starters own a 3.67 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 10.52 K/9. The bullpen has managed an excellent ERA of just 1.62, along with a WHIP of 1.18 and a K-per-9 of 9.14.
Diamondbacks hitters have slashed .229/.314/.411 on their way to 4.7 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.5 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 5.6 per game over the team’s last five outings (4-1 SU).
First baseman Paul Goldschmidt and left fielder David Peralta have led Arizona’s hitters. Goldschmidt is slashing .275/.400/.527 with four home runs, 11 RBIs and 21 runs scored, while Peralta (.322/.398/.556) has produced five homers, 16 RBIs and 15 runs scored.
Compared to his total season slash line of .298/.405/.560, Goldschmidt did not seem to enjoy batting on the road last year, maintaining a slash line of .275/.364/.482 across 324 plate appearances.
The Diamondbacks have gained 10.3 units and are 8-3 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has cashed in five of those games, compared to five that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Nationals have lost 7.3 units and are 3-6 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in three of those games, compared to five that’ve gone under.
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Washington Nationals Free MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Nationals, ATS Winner – Diamondbacks, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Trends
The over has hit in four of Arizona’s last seven games.
The Diamondbacks have won six of their last seven games SU while the Nationals have lost six of their last seven SU.
Arizona has posted 19.7 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 22.4 over its last five.
The Diamondbacks have hit 13 home runs in their last 10 games, including nine over their last five.
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